Minor League Transactions: Feb. 14-20

Waiver claim Adrian Cardenas (formerly of the Athletics) essentially takes Blake DeWitt's place on the 40-man roster, aspiring to be a bat-first utility player who can hit for average and fill in at second or third base. Cardenas also learned to play left field last year with Triple-A Sacramento, for whom he batted .314/.374/.418 in 545 PAs last year.

The Reds outrighted Carlos Fisher to Louisville to make room for Ryan Ludwick on the 40-man roster. The rest of the moves you see here fall under the housekeeping header. Of the nine players cut by Cincinnati, only Chase Ware (an NDFA from Arkansas State in ’09) was not on the restricted list just prior to release.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: OF Lance Durham

Houston Astros
Signed: RHP Livan Hernandez,2B Jose Martinez

Jose Martinez grew up in the Cardinals system, meaning that new Astros GM Jeff Luhnow has a history with the 26-year-old Venezuelan. Martinez topped out with Double-A Springfield in the St. Louis system.

Aaron Guiel made the big leagues for the first time at age 29 with the ’02 Royals, the same club that gave a 30-year-old Raul Ibanez his first 500 at-bat season. Ibanez rewarded Kansas City with 24 homers and a .537 slugging percentage. Guiel didn't reach those heights, but he did rack up 888 at-bats as a part-time outfielder with the Royals from ’02 through ’06. He caught a break when he latched on with the Japanese Central League's Yakult Swallows in ’07. Guiel belted 35 homers in his debut season in NPB but his production dwindled each subsequent season. He batted .234/.357/.472 overall with 90 homers in 1,701 PAs in Japan.